US 11,306,648 B1 · Combustion pre-chamber for an internal combustion engine

Abstract

An internal combustion engine has a cylinder head having a cylinder roof defining first and second intake ports. The cylinder head supports a spark plug positioned between a central axis of the cylinder roof and a fuel injector. A combustion pre-chamber is connected to and extends outwardly from the roof. The pre-chamber encapsulates the spark plug, and is offset from the central axis and positioned between the central axis and the first and second intake ports. The pre-chamber defines an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture positioned along a spray streamline of the fuel injector, and defines first and second side apertures. Each side aperture is positioned adjacent to a respective one of the first and second intake ports. A method of operating an engine having a pre-chamber is also provided.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An internal combustion engine comprising:

a cylinder head having a cylinder roof defining first and second intake ports, and supporting a spark plug positioned between a central axis of the cylinder roof and a fuel injector, the cylinder head having a combustion pre-chamber extending outwardly from the roof, the pre-chamber encapsulating the spark plug, the pre-chamber offset from the central axis and positioned between the central axis and the first and second intake ports, the pre-chamber defining an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture positioned along a spray streamline of the fuel injector, and defining first and second side apertures, each side aperture positioned adjacent to a respective one of the first and second intake ports.

A method for operating an engine, the method comprising:

igniting a fuel-air mixture within a combustion pre-chamber via a spark plug positioned inside a cavity defined by the combustion pre-chamber, the combustion pre-chamber supported by and extending outwardly from a cylinder head of the engine and into a main combustion chamber of a cylinder, the combustion pre-chamber and spark plug being offset from a central axis of the cylinder, with the pre-chamber positioned between the central axis, the first intake valve, and the second intake valve;
venting exhaust gases from within the combustion pre-chamber to the main combustion chamber via an inlet aperture, an outlet aperture, a first side aperture, and a second side aperture defined by the pre-chamber thereby igniting another fuel-air mixture within the main combustion chamber;
and
purging exhaust gases from within the combustion pre-chamber via the outlet aperture into the main combustion chamber during an intake stroke by flowing intake air flow from first and second intake valves into the pre-chamber via the first and second side apertures.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Combustion pre-chamber for an internal combustion engine

Life of this patent

Combustion pre-chamber for an internal combustion engine

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20